Improvement in washing-machiwes



M. W. STAPLES. Washing-Machines.

"N0. 142,958. Patented S ept emberI6,1873.

Edi

MOSES \V. STAPLES, OERICHMUXD, VIRGINIA.

IMPROYEMENT IN WASHENG=MACHINE Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 1412,958, dated September 16, 1873; application filed Tnly 24, {1813.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MosEs W. STAPLES, of Richmond, Henrico county, State of Virginia, have invented an Improved Washing Machine, of which the following is aspecifieation:

The object of my invention is a washingmachine, illustrated by the sectional elevation, Figure 1, of the accompanying drawing, and consisting of a vibrating tank or vessel, A, formed with curved walls and spaces a a at the top for producing reactions in the currents of water, and the downward flow of the same upon the clothes, and having conical or other projections b at the bottom for retaining the clothes in proper position to receive the said reacting currents, all as fully described hereafter. The vessel has trunnions at its opposite sides adapted to hearings in uprights d, secured to a suitable base, B, and atone end of the said vessel is a handle, 0, by means of which it can be swung freely to and fro, the center of vibration being at m. At the opposite ends of the vessel, at the top of the same, are spaces a a, the curved walls of which merge into the curved bottom], and upon-the I latter are a number of pointed conical projections, b, which I preter to arrange in rows, as shown in the transverse section, Fig. 2, and which serve to retain and prevent the swaying of the mass of clothes when the'vessel is vibrated. The clothes and hot water or suds are introduced into the vessel through an opening in the top of the same, covered by a detachable lid, 71, and situated midway between the spaces a a.

By vibrating the vessel the water is caused to traverse the curved bottom of the same, first in one direction and then in the other, the currents also following the curve of the walls of the spaces a, as indicated by the arrows, which thus produce reactions of the same, causing a forcible downward discharge of water to ward the center of the vessel, first on one side and then on the other, and upon the mass of I clothes retained in proper position to receive the said currents by the conical or other projections Z The currents cross each other at the center of the vessel adjacent to the not tom of the same, describing a figure of eight, as indicated by the arrows, and the action of these cross-currents upon the clothes soon thoroughly cleanses the same.

I am aware that suspended tanks with round bottoms joining the top at right angles have been used 5 but it will be seen that the water flowing into the angular space thus formedjis thrown against the top instead of toward the center and upon the clothes.

I claim- A washing-machine consisting ot' a suspended tank having a curved bottom merging into ends rounded, as described, so as todirect the water which flows to said ends back toward the center and upon the clothes, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence c" two subscribing witnesses.

MOSES W STAPLES.

Witnesses: J. 1). K. SLEIGII'I,

E. M. Omnur. 

